CUCINA enoteca Newport Beach — Restaurant in Newport Beach

Title: Mixed Experience at Cucina Enetoca, Fashion Island Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ I recently dined at Cucina Enetoca in Fashion Island and wanted to share my thoughts on the overall experience. While the service and ambiance were commendable, there were a few aspects that left me with mixed feelings. Let's start with the positives. The service at Cucina Enetoca was attentive and friendly. The staff was welcoming and accommodating throughout our visit, which definitely enhanced our dining experience. The ambiance of the restaurant was also pleasant, creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Now, let's delve into the food. While most of the dishes were satisfying, I was disappointed with the strawberry date salad. The salad arrived with a significant portion of wilted and slimy leaves, indicating that they were not as fresh as one would expect. This was a letdown, as fresh ingredients are crucial in creating a flavorful and enjoyable salad. On a brighter note, the other dishes we ordered were quite enjoyable. The standout was the semolina cake, which was absolutely delicious. The flavors were rich, and the texture was just perfect, making it a memorable part of our meal. Regrettably, I must address an upsetting incident during our visit. A rat made an unexpected appearance, scurrying across the room and under the bar area. Needless to say, this was an unsettling sight and certainly detracted from our overall dining experience. It is important for any establishment to prioritize pest control measures to ensure the comfort and safety of their customers. In conclusion, Cucina Enetoca at Fashion Island had its ups and downs. While the service and ambiance were commendable, the disappointment with the strawberry date salad and the unwelcome presence of a rat were concerning. I hope that the restaurant takes these issues seriously and takes appropriate steps to improve the freshness of their ingredients and address any pest control concerns. Overall, I would consider giving Cucina Enetoca another chance in the future, hoping for a more consistent and enjoyable dining experience. Disclaimer: Please note that this review is based on my personal experience and opinions at the time of visit, and others may have different...

TLDR: Perfect venue to host a private meal with amazing staff and delicious food!

I recently hosted a private brunch at 11:00am for 20 guests at Cucina Enoteca last week to celebrate my engagement with my now fiancée. I originally planned the surprise brunch back in March 2021 and was initially contacted by Alison Cupper. First, I want to give a huge shout to Alison and her excellent professionalism, patience, and thoughtfulness! Alison thoughtfully walked me through the 3 course selection process for a prix fixe menu, drink menu, seating arrangements, and even the letterhead for the print-out menu. She was transparent throughout the planning process, never upselling additional packages and working within my budget. She was extremely responsive, always getting back to my messages within 24 hours and providing stellar customer service.

In regards to the day of the brunch, the staff was absolutely fantastic, caring, and attentive. All our food and drinks came out delicious with the staff making sure the courses were timed impeccably. In addition, they made sure our drinks were always topped off and our dining experience was going well. My guests positively raved on the perfectly cooked food and strong drinks.

If there was one point for constructive feedback, as the restaurant got busier for lunch rush hour, the staff had to separate their time between our private table and other guests. I completely understand how staff levels are being minimized during these times for social distancing, but waiting almost 30 minutes after your final dessert course to get your check is a bit long, especially for a private table. As our group was on a tight deadline to head to our next venue, I had to hunt down our waitress and ask for the bill. She was extremely apologetic, but again, I completely understand the times that we're in.

Overall, I was very happy with how the surprise brunch turned out and wouldn't hesitate to re-do it over again (minus the final check speed-bump). From Alison to the wonderful Cucina Enoteca staff, if you're planning to host a private meal with friends and family, I would strongly recommend checking...

Not sure why this place has so many good reviews because I've had better food at much lower prices. Had it not been for the mushroom goat cheese pizza, I would have given it one star. The service was decent, nothing to brag about. It was also really dark so many people were using the lights on their phones to read the menus. Hadn't been to fashion island in awhile so I wanted to take my parents to Cheesecake Factory to have some cheesecake while enjoying the ocean view but didn't realize it disappeared. Nothing really stood out for food besides Fleming's but since we didn't have any reservations, this place looked the most promising. We ordered the clam linguini, margherita pizza and the mushroom goat cheese pizza. The clam linguini was an utter disappointment. I've never had one so bland before and pasta wasn't quite al dente so somewhat rough to eat. The clams weren't very fresh either. There were no salt or pepper on the table either but it wouldn't have helped. The margherita pizza...I don't know who makes the sauce but it reminded me of chef boy ardee canned food. Yes, it was that bad. The only decent one was the mushroom goat cheese pizza. It's got basil and truffle oil on it as well so that made it standout somewhat. While this was the only decent tasting item, the pizza dough was incredibly chewy. I asked for steak knives to cut the pizza but even that was hard to cut with. To make things worse, the interior door was open to the outside tables so I had the pleasure of being visited by the local mosquito tribes to feast on me while dining (they got the better deal than I did). They also bring the billing right to your table with a portable P.O.S. machine so I accidentally selected the 20% tip (was planning to just tip the usual 15% in cash) so be careful when you're paying your bill. This was the first time trying this place so maybe I didn't order the best dishes but for the amount of money I paid for pizza and pasta, I can't...